Thankful for a place to go

Ford and Connie Monroe have been far from home on Thanksgiving the past 10 years but an abrupt course change had the two Northwest Airlines flight attendants gathering at Chris' Club Thursday.

Because of major surgery Connie Monroe recently had, the two will be around their Vallejo home for the holidays and like others at the Benicia Road bar, the free dinner at Chris' Club made people feel at home.

Not far away, visitors to the Christian Help Center also enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings.

At Chris' Club, the Thanksgiving atmosphere was a bit different than normal, but that was all right.

"We like to go where everyone knows your name," said Ford Monroe, borrowing a line from the famous TV show theme for "Cheers." "Whether it's a birthday or a holiday everyone pitches in," he said.

Toward the end of the dinner, Perry said the bar's Thanksgiving day patrons finished six turkeys.

David Moore, a vocational instructor at California Maritime Academy, donated the stuffing.

His trip to the bar was about giving back to the community, he said.

"I have family on the East Coast and rather than go out with friends I thought I'd help out," Moore said.

Joel Cartwright also didn't have family nearby.

He said he joined the Thanksgiving dinner at Chris' Club because he likes the music, including the blues bands that perform there.

Koni Frew, who sat with her friend, Phyllis Barton, said she's spending her first Thanksgiving without her husband, who died in February.

"This is some place to go," Frew said. "It's nice. It's clean."

"It's nice people that own it," Barton said of the bar.

Individuals who gathered for free Thanksgiving dinner at Christian Help Center, 2166 Sacramento St, had a more unified perspective of why they ate together.

"It's a safe place to be," said Leah Adams, as she worked on clearing her plate of turkey and stuffing. "We're all like family here," she said.

"I'm thankful for being off the streets and not using drugs," said Yvette Lamont, who was sitting next to Adams. She said she has chosen not to live her life on the streets any longer and, thanks to the shelter, anticipates moving into her own home next month.

Rosanna Seronio said she was thankful she had a place to sleep without worrying.

"I can use the Christian Help Center resources, calm down and start over," said Seronio who spent five months homeless on Oakland streets.

The Christian Help Center opened its doors on Thanksgiving 1984, and has had a holiday dinner every year since then, said the Rev. Rey Bernardes, the center's founder.